Ashok Saraf (born 4 June 1947) is an Indian film and stage actor[1] and comedian.[2] He has appeared in many Marathi movies and stage plays in lead roles and in Hindi movies and TV serials in supporting roles. He is affectionately known as 'MAMA' in entire Marathi film industry means closer human being. Most of Marathi actors & actress called him as Samrat ashoka of marathi film industry.

In the 1980s and 90s, Saraf was considered as one of the two Marathi comedy superstars along with actor Laxmikant Berde.

His brand of comedy has been emulated by many actors and serves as a benchmark for new upcoming comedy actors in Marathi cinema.

Saraf started his career in Marathi cinema since the late 1960s. In the 1970s, he was frequently seen in supporting comic roles in Marathi movies with leading actors like Dada Kondke, Nilu Phule, Ravindra Mahajani, Avinash Masurekar, Raja Gosavi and others. His pairing with actress Ranjana Deshmukh became very popular with Marathi movie fans.

But from the early 1980s, Saraf started getting cast as the leading hero in Marathi films. The combination of Ashok Saraf, Laxmikant Berde, Sachin Pilgaonkar and Mahesh Kothare created the 'comedy films wave' in Marathi cinema from 1985 that lasted for more than a decade.

Ashok Saraf has been working in the film and television industry since the year 1969. He has acted in more than 250 Marathi films out of which 100 were commercial success. He has mostly acted in comedy films. He has played many roles in Marathi Cinema, Marathi Plays, Hindi Cinema, Marathi Television Serials and Hindi Television serials He started his career with the Marathi movie 'Janaki' in 1969. He then acted in the movies like 'Donhi Gharacha Pahuna', 'Jawal Ye Laju Nako', 'Tumacha Amacha Jamala', Chimanrao Gundyabhau', 'Deed Shahane', 'Haldikunku', 'Duniya Kari Salam' and more during the 1970s–1980s. He continued to work with Marathi films with Laxmikant Berde, Sachin and Mahesh Kothare. The Marathi movie moved in the different term of comedy during that phase.'Ashi Hi Banava Banavi' , 'Aayatya gharat gharoba' and 'Dhum dhadaka' are some of the very popular Marathi movies.[5][6]

Saraf has also acted in various Marathi plays and Hindi serials. He then developed his own production house 'Aniket Telefilms' which is handled by his wife Nivedita Saraf.[7]

Ashok Saraf is such a versatile actor that he also played an important roles in the Bollywood. Some of the roles which are remembered are from the films Singham, Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, Gupt, Koyla, Yes Boss and Karan Arjun. His performance in films against powerful comedy actors like Govinda, Johny Lever & Kader Khan was appraised.

Ashok Saraf has also starred in television serials like Yeh Choti Badi Baatein and Hum Paanch (as Anand Mathur) which tasted a major success.[12]Ashok Saraf's comedy show 'Don't Worry Hojayega which was that time telecast on' Sahara tvwas very popular in 90s. Audiens were very excited to watch this show that time.

He has played number of roles in Marathi Play in his career. Some of the important plays includes Hamidabaichi Kothi, Anidhikrut, Manomilan, He Ram Cardiogram, Darling Darling, Sarkha Chatit Dukhtay, Laginghai.